Engine-starter.



G". G. CHUTE & C. A; GROAT.

ENGINE STARTER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12, 1913.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHBET 1.

WITNESSES: I ADJ v f;

- UNITED STATES PATENT. orros- GEORGE G." CHUTE AND CHE-STEP 'A. GROAT, F PQRTLANnOREG ENG-TN E- STARTER.

' T all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that We, GEORGE G. :CHUTE' and ."CHESTER A. GROAT, cltizens of the United States, andresidents, respectively,

of the city of Portland, county of Multnoma'h, State of Oregom have invented a new and useful Improvement in EngineStart ers, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to devices whereby "an internal combustion engine may be" stai'ted by the application of external force. communicated from point. a

The direct -application of 'our invention concerns self-driving vehicles such as fire, salvage, ambulance'and patrol apparatus,

where it is'necessary that the engine be started as quickly as possible so as to avoid loss of time:. p A To this end our invention has for its objectthe providing ofsuitable and efficient I I v means whereby the engine may be started automatically, in the act of the watchman I sounding the alarm. gong, onas otherwise convenient, so that. the engine will be warmed up and the vehicle ready to go the instant the driver of the vehicle, is ready; V

e attain our object by releasably connecting with the crank of the starter-mechanism oi the. vehicle engine means operated by power communicated from a distant point for turning the crank and the crank turning means being disengaged from thecrank by the energizing of an electro-magnet included in our device, or automatically through the medium of a device operatedby the-vehicle driving over a member thereof. 4O

Our invention'further includes the arranging ofthe power communicating. parts crank, so asto render it unnecessary to ac-f so as to accommodate the variations in the' position of the vehicle, relatively to the loca-.. tion of the power transmitting member of our device to be -connected with the engine 'ating to permit the starter truck, 0,," b, of the station.- 'A pair ofpedestal blocks,

of the truck, While broken. lines is shown Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr,.20,19 15 Application filed March 12,1913. Seria1No..7 53,8G 8. I

the position assumed by such starter shaft afterthisconnectionhas-been broken. This view further illustrates, diagrammatically, the system of electric wiring and the switch. 7 r .by which such system is controlled; Fig; 2

is a detail showing in side elevation the controlling switch and its electrical connec trons; this VIEBW shows the pecullan construc tion' of the-motor-circuit terminal as 00111- pared with the other terminals; Fig. 3 is a larger-sized detail, drawn partly in section,

om r t illustrating more clearly the construction ofthe various parts -irn-o-lvml therein this view further shows the action of that portion of our device termed-the unhitcher' and 0per-'-- shaft to drop relatively downward, as shown in the broken lines ofthis figure; Fig. 4 is afragmentary. front elevation of the tinnng gear case 0t a truck, showing a worm-gear attachment adapted to rotate. the engine shaft, the latter being shown in section.- The panel clutch which prevents the engine shaft from'rotat ingin the wrong direction is' shown with its outer face removed, and the starter shaft is shown in operative. connection with the Worm gear attachment; Fig. 5 is a detailof construction showing means for releasably supporting the starter shaft in its up position; 'the broken lines show such supporting 'means .in their inactive position whereby the starter shaftis allowed 'to drop "tolits down'pos1t1on"; and Fig. 6 sanother detail of construction showing how the releasable supporting means referredgto of being released. v

The operation of our device will be dein vhe preceding fig'ureare rendered capable scribed in connection with fire apparatus stations. In all su'chstations, it is customary for each apparatus to be located-or spotted, as it is called, in its own individual place,"the position of the apparatus with regard to suchplace never being va- "ried more than a few-inches, and the .con-

struction of our device is such'as to permit itsuse notwithstanding such limited varianceFin'the position of the apparatus.

In ig. 1 is shown the front-portion of a spotted in itsplac'e on the fio or,

c, c p-fixedly mounted on the plate 0' of the timing gear-case '(see also Fig.4) rotatably V support-a worm 01' provided at its lowerend witha'. yoke which serves as. one member the worm. Keyed to the engine "shaft 9 is a 1 panel clutch li -See Fig. 1. A'worm gear, a,

ears on such panel clutch la and when rotated in a clockwise direction will impart to 'the engine shaft, g, a similar rotation.

advantage! it prevents the engine its shaft provided supported-on a such j the bracketm' {by in saidbracket m,

' outwardly projecting studs, :10, 'w (not seen member 6 When, however, the engineshaft g rotates faster than the-worm gear, 2', is driven, the panelclutch will allow said. gear to freely. The panel clutch h is of the well known type of construction The worm gear; a, meshes with and is driven by the worm d.-

from :kicking back. It is to be noted that the regular form of cranking means, as indicated at 7' in- Fig. l are not interfered with, and the same may be used at anytime independently of the devices used in connection with our invention. Directly. beneath the universal joint-member f a circular hole 70 isfcut in the floor 6. See Fig.1 A pendent bracket, m, is suspended by its members, run from the floor b. A motor 0, having with abevel'pinion p, is, bracket. A cylinder g (see also Fig. 3);provided at its lower end with a securing Hanger, is fixedly bolted to th'e'bolts 1" over :1 holes in alinement with the hole is, ofthe station floor I). Said cylinder 9' is further provided .-with diametrically opposed holes, 2?, t, through which extend the parts, 12 15 later explained. See Figs. 1 and 3.x, A cylindrical bearing t," provided at its lower end with a securing flange 'v, is bolted on the cylinder 9, the bolting not being seen. The bearing, u, is further providedwi'th a pair of diametrically opposed,

in Fig. 3) rockably supporting the ring 10 as shown in Fig. 1. A cylindrical box m is rotatably journaled in the bearing, the box. being supported in place by its flange y and a collarz threaded on the;lower end of the box w, as shown in Fig.3. .Saidbox w is further provided with a, pair 'of diametrically opposed, inwardly projecting" studs, 2, 2 pivotally supportingthe universal joint onthe interior of which are provided studs 7 'for pivotally connecting the rotary motion 1n universal joint member Swith the member 6. A bevel gear 3 having'a hole 1''conforn'iing with the inner periphery 'of the box 'w, is the latter by bolts 5i Said bevel thereby giving the box m a the bearing to. Thejoint member Sis provided with a square bearing hole 9. Arms, '11, 14, extend below the bracket'm and are made with curvedupper bevel pinion p,

extremities, 12 15 which extend throughthrough: said plate. arms 11,14 are made with threaded bolt The use of a worm drive has this porting the shaft-21 "inits holding 13, 16. A spacing plate 17 is fastened by bolts 17 to the base of the curved arm portions 12" 15, asshown in Fig.3. Said spacing plate is .made annular in form, and cored out to accommodate the parts passing The lower ends of the ends, and a cross'arm or bearing 18 is secured on such; ends by nuts 19. The arms 11, let are thus maintained in parallel position, and provide a bearing for. the starter shaft 21 which extends between said arms. Thisshaft is made with a squared upper portion20 and a round lower end 21*. The squared portion 20 slidably-bears inthe uni- ,versal joint member 8 and *the, round end '21 of said shaft extends through the bearing 18. 'A disk 22 is pinned to the round portion of the starter shaft 21 by a pin 23. A coiLspring 2 1 is placed on the shaft 21 between the disk 22 and the universal joint' member 8, and a bumper spring25 is similarlytarranged between the disk 22 and the bearingl8.

Whenthe starter shaft is positioned as shown inthefull lines of Figs. 1 and 3, its squared end 20willbear in the central member f of the universal joint which is mounted on the truck as mentioned, -(see Fig. 1), and the rotation of said starter shaft 21 by' the.

'driven gear3 will drive the worm d, there 1). 'as to be entirely clear of thetruck a.

Means are provided for releasablyqsup up position, as shown 1n Figs. 3, 4: and 5. Thesemeans include a latch element and means for re 11o leasing of the latch,

the devices being ar-. ranged as follows: The arm 14 isprovided with-two pairsof laterally projecting ears 26, in each-of which is pivoted a curved arm, 27,- by a pin 28. The-rear ends of such arms are connected by a coil-spring 29, normally acting to: pullxthe' arms --apart. 'Journaled in each arm is a roller 30, which acts] as a bearingforthedisk 22 when the parts are positioned as shown in; the full lines of Figsiil and 5. The arm 11 is pro-. vided with a pair of laterally projecting portions 31 (see also Fig.6) having guide slots 32 in which move the rounded ex- .tremities 3320f the arms 27. A latch 34: is

pivotally mounted on the extremity of one of the arms 27, and is adapted "to engage with the extremity, of the other arm, for the two arms in closed position, as

illustrated in the full lines of Fig. 5. By

- disengaging the; latch 34,-the spring 29' will act to swing the arms open and the coil:-

" --spring 2e will their force the shaft 21 to start dewnwarda' Said shaft will then fall hitcher-'""mech anismsimilar to that used: in

fire stations for tin-hitching horses, unlock-g ing doors,- etc.- Such "unhitcher mecha-' nism we arrangeasv shown in g A plate 35, upon which is mounted "e unhitcher mechanism, is rigidly mountedton sliding bolts 'thearm 11 by bolts 36. The plate 35 has perforated lus 37,- supporting two' parallel 8. The upper and lower ends of the bolts 38' are connected hy cross-bars 44. and Mfoh the upper of which is a latch )head 39, positioned between said rods 38.

See also bottomportion of Fig. 1. 'Rigidly secured in the cross-bar e k-between the bolts 38 is a pendent-b01540, which bears in the brackets 41 and 42, extending laterally from the pl'ate35 An expansion coil-spring 43 i's mounted on the bolt flfi'kbetween the bracket 42 and the" cross-bar 44, for projecting upward the bolts 38 and therewith the head 39. Aiplate 4:7, afiiafed to theplate 35, supports a pair of elect-r'omagnets' 458 and a pivoted armature 4:9.- See Fig. 3. Said armature-is normally bracket 50, which is mounted on the, plate '35 below the plate {FL A bracket 51 made with a-central opening for the bolt is mounted on the plate 35, as shown in Fig. 3,

' I and forms a support(for'-the pivoted" arm 52,

the upper end of which enters the-bifurcation' of th'e'bracket 50i The lower end of the arm 52 is rounded and bears on the edge of the" upper end of the bolt/l0. vA very light spring 53' mounted on the plate 35, bears against the arm 52 and normally holds the latter outward; When the bolts 38 are down, as shown in the fulllines of Fig. 3

the arm 52 will be rotated sufficiently to al-' 'low the armature 49 to drop in place behindit, thereby; locking said sliding bolts fromany upward movement. A cocking'lever5 l, pivoted on the bracket-arm 42-of th'e'plate' 35,-has pivotally attached to it an arm 55. The upper end of this. arm bears in the bracket arm 41 of the plate 35. A coil spring 56 connecting the lever 54 and-bracket arm 41-, normally holds the former in its 'up position. A draw-head 57 pinnedto the arm 55, has a nose 46,-which is arranged-to entera. recess of the cross bar 44. In or-' der that the pendent mechanism shown in Fig. 3 will hangrelatively vertical, a coun terweight 14 is provided on the arm 14. It will be seen therefore that when the armatrue 49 is lifted, by energizing the electromagnets, the upward pressure of the bolt 40 against the lower end of the arm 52 will cause the latter to be. moved clockwise on its pivot against the s ring" 53,-. thereby permitting the nnhitching mechanismto be actuated by' the spring 453; In order to reset Such mechanism, the eockinglever 54 is The spring 53 will simultaneously force the arm 52- outw'ard permitting the armature" 49 ':61:?015? i n behind said arm 5-2, as shown in Fig. 3', whereupon the" unhitching mecha-F- ni s'ni will be locked against action until such time as the armature is again lifted; It will he observed that the arms 1 1 14 are free to swing a limited distance any direction,- such: actionbeing permitted by the rocker latter and the curved extremities, 12', '15, and

ring'lt); the pivotal connections betweenthe the universal joints. In this 'w'ay,'though the truck, 0:,- isnot properly .sppttedg 6.,

moved back intoplace, our device will accommodate such misplacement, and the con-- nection of the shaft 20' with the-universal joint. member" 1 is not prevented.

The electrical system by Ineansof' the action ef our device controlled is shown diagrammatically in- Figs. amt A; knife switch 58' has three terminals' 59', 60-,

61. The main lighting circuit: of the station is represented by the wires 62, 63. A seriessupported by the -'biiurcated followsah wire 68 connects one pole of the motor'to the wire' 62 and a Wire 69 connects the other pole of said motor to the knife of the switch 58'. A wire 70 connects the ter- Initial-59 to the wire 63; A, knife-switch 71 V normally closed,-lies' inthis motor circuit, as

shown: in F igl lr terminal 59 is made of considerable length (see Fig;- 2) so that the knife may. have a considerable throw with out-breaking the contact. One, pole of a g'on'g' 7-2 is connected to the terminal 607by a wire 73. The other pole of said gong is? I connected to the knife of the switch 58"by a wire-74",- elect'ro-magnet 7 8, wire 74', wire iro- 75, battery 76 and wire 7 7. 'A rocker arma gized, the consequent attraction of the armature 79 will cause the'knife-switch 67 .of the auxiliary lighting circuit tobe closed. The

latter-circuit will then remain closed until manually broken The third terminal 61-is connected to one of the electromagneLtsLS ture79', formed as a b'ell crank is so located with respect to the electro magnet 78" and .switch 67, that when the gong circuit is .made and said'electro-mag'net thereby enerof the unhitcher by a wire 80. The other magnet 48 is connected to the knife of the switch 58 by a Wire 81',.wire 75,. battery 7 6 and'wire77. v

A motor, 0,

Our device operates as follows: 'lNhen a callis turned in at the station, the oper on duty throws the knife switch 58 so asto ator make contact with the terminals 59 and '60;-

The motor circuit will be closed as follows;

wire 69, terminal wire 62, wire 68, motor 0, 59, wire 70, to Wire 63. In this Way. the

willbe energized andthe connections therefrom to the truckengi-ne shaft g will, operate to' turn the latter. The gong circuit will vbeclosed through the wire 78,-

gong 7 2, wire 7 4;, electro-magnet 78, wire 74',

i wire. 75, battery 76, wire 77, and terminal 60.

The consequent closing of the light circuit by the closing of the gongcircuit, as previ- 'ously explained, will cause all of the station lights to be turned on and to remain so until manually turned 0E. By

1 terminal. 59; will break the moving the knife 1 of the switch 58,.slight1y backward and for v with the terminal 61 v qu'en't attraction of the armature 4-.9Qwi1l cause the unhitcher ously shaft 21'to fall, and disconnect it s'elffrom thegtruckv As emergency releasing means,

we have provided the;fdevices described 1 as follows :'A bell-crank 82 hinged; toia bracket o'fthe bell-cra' And when 66 press the bolt 84., therebypulling 83, suspended, from the floonb, is ope'rable by vthe depression of a bolt 84. Said bellcrankjis held normally in an operative position'by' bolt 84 to be projected up some distance above the'Q-fioor through a hole.86 in the latter. A co'rds87 connecting with the free leg is (fastened to a lug 89 onthe armature 49.

=Ayspring 90, in--this cord, normally holdsthe cord taut oversthe-pulleys 88' ,The' bolt 84 is so positioned that when the truck is spotted 7. said bolt will be located directly in the path-of one of the front truck wheels.

the truck'is run out it will deupelon the cord 87, and causing the lifting of th armatwo 49. This will accomplish the same result as the energizing of the magnets 48, as. previously described.

switch 71 in the motor circuit is so located,

Furthermore, a

as to be opened by the depression of the bolt mechanism to act asgprevi-y described, thereby allowing the -.starter the spring 85, the'latten -causing the 1 runs over pulleys 88 and .means for coupling-this shaft said coupling means adapted to be "8t simultaneously with the lifting of the armature 49. ,These emergency releasing means will make the control of the system entirely automatic'and altogether independent of the controllin switch 58. It .is to be remembered that t e shaft 21 is capable of accommodating the forward movement of the truck until dropped out of engagement. It will thus-be seen that when an alarm is turned in at'a station, the truck engine can be started immediately, so that by the'time the" driver is ready the engine will be warmed up and ready for operating.

- NVe claim:

1., As a starting mechanism for-the engine having a starting member and therewith combined gearing for-.rotatinglsuch member, a driven shaft, means for coupling this shaftkwith said: gearing, said coupling means adapted to be element includmga crank of said driven shaft from said gearing; a

rotatable member providing a sliding bearing for said driven shaft; means for supporting the. driven shaft in coupled position; and means connecting the rotatable'member with a source of'power. I 1

2. As a starting mechanism. for the engine having a startingelement including a crank member and therewith combined gearing, for rotating such member,

with said s i disengaged by the longitudinal movement of said driven shaft from said gearing; said coupling means also adapted for accommodating the relative movement of said driven shaft in all directions; a rotatable member providing a slidingbearing for said driven shaft, such sliding bearing adapted to permit the movement of the driven shaft in all directions without interfering with the drivingjthereof; means for supporting the driven shaft in coupled position; such supporting means controlled by an electromagnetand operable to release the driven shaft by the energizing 'of the electromagnet; and

means connecting the rotatable member with a source of power. 9

3. As a starting mechanism for the engine havin a starting element including a crank a driven shaft,

member andftherewith combined gearing forrotating such member, a pendent, driven shaft, means for coupling this shaft with i said gearing, said coupling means adapted tobe disengaged by-the longitudinal movement ofsaid driven shaft from said gearing, said coupling means also adapted for .accommodating the relative movement of said driven shaft in 'alldirections; a rotatable member and a support therefor, a sliding bearing for said driven shaft, such bearing supported on the rotatablemember by means accommodating the movement of said shaft in all directions; means for' supporting the s5 disengaged by'the longitudinal movement 3 -a source of power. g

As a starting mechanism for the engine having a starting element including a crank driven pendent shaft in coupled position such supporting means controlled by an: 'electromagnet and operable to release the driven shaft by the'energizing of the electromagnet; and means connecting the rota.-,

table member with a'source of power.

4. As a starting mechanism for the engine having a startingelement including aTcrank member and therewith combined gearing for rotating such member, a pendent, driven" shaft, means for coupling this shaft with said gearing, said coupling means adapted to be disengaged by the longitudinal move}. ment of said driven shaftlfrom said gearing,-

the arms against the tension of said spring;

means for disengaging said latch, such means contrplledby 'anelectromagnet; and means connecting the rotatable member with member and therewith combined gearing for rotating such member, apendent, driven shaft, means for coupling this shaft with said gearing, said coupling means adapted to be disengaged by the longitudinal movc ment of said'driven shaft from said gearmg, said coupling means also adapted for accommodating the relative movement of said driven shaft in all directions; a rotatable member providing a slidingbearlng for said driven shaft; suchvsliding bearing adapted to permit the-movement of the driven shaft in all. directions withoutinterfering with the driving thereof; a projection on the shaft, pivoted arms engaging with said projection for supporting the driven shaft in coupled position; aspringoperating'to spread such arms apart in order to release the shaft; a'latch holding the arms against the tension of said spring; a spring actuated project'able device arranged to disengage said latch by impact therewith; means for normally restraining such projectablc devicc,'sucl1 means con trolled by an electromagnet and operated to release the progectable device when the electromagnet is energized; and means connect-- ing the rotatable member with a source of power.

6. As a starting mechanism for the engine of a self propelling vehicle. such engine hav-' ing a starting element including. a' crank member and therewith combined, gearing fbr rotating such member, a driven shaft, means for coupling this shaftwith said gearing, said coupling means adapted to be' disengaged by the longitudinal movement of said driven shaft from said gearing, said coupling' means also adapted, for accommo-' dating the relative movement of said driven shaft in all directions; a rotat'able'member,

providing a sliding bearing for said driven shaft, such sliding bearing adapted to permit the movement of the driven shaft in all directions without 'interfering with the driv;

ing thereof; means for supporting the driven shaft in coupled position; such supporting means controlled by an electromagnet and operable to release the driven shaft by the energizing of the electromagnet; an electric motor, connections between pressible bolt provided in 'thepath over which the vehicle will travel when started; and mechanical means and connections therefrom to said depressiblebolt whereby themeanssupporting the driven shaft in active position are operated, independently of'said electromagnet, to release the shaft \vhen'the bolt is. depressed.

7. As a starting mechanism for the engine ofa self propelling vehicle, such engine having a starting element, including a crank member and therewith combined'gearing for rotating such memberfa pendent, driven shaft, means for coupling this shaft with said gearing, said coupling meansadapted to be disengaged by the longitudinal movement of said driven shaft from said gearing;

.a rotatable member providing a sliding'bear:

ing for said driven shaft, such sliding hear ing adapted to permit the movement of the driven shaft in all directions witho'utinten fering with the drivingthereof; a projec 'tion on the shaft, pivoted arms engaging with such projection for supporting the driven .shaftin coupled position; aspring "operating to spread such arms apart i-norder to release the shaft; a latch holding the arms against the tension of said spring ya spring actuated projectable device arrangedto' disengage said latch by impact' therewith; means for normally cstraining such projectabledevice, such means controlled by an electro-magnet and operated to release the projecta-ble device when the electro-magnet ,is energized; an electric motor, connections between the same and said rotatable mem- 1 ber; a depressible bolt provided in the path over which the vehicle will travel when started; and connectionsbetween said de;

'pressible bolt and the restraining means 0 the projectable device adapted to operate the latter and then release the projectable device independently of said electro-magnet, when said bolt is depressed.

V 85 the same and said rotatable member; a de- I pled position;

8. As a starting mechanism for the engine: such engine'- of a self propelling vehicle, v having a starting element includinga" crank member and therewith combined gearing for rotating such member, shaft, means for coupling this shaft with said gearing-said coupling means adapted to beengaged by the longitudinal movement of said driven shaft from said gearing; a rotatable memberproviding a sliding bear- -ing for said driven shaft, such slidingbearin adapetd to permit the movement ofthe driven shaft in ll directions without interfering with the driving thereof; mea supporting the driven pendent shaft-in cousuch supporting means controlled by an electromagnetand operable to release the' driven shaft by theenergizing of the electromagnet; an electric motor, connections between the same and said rotatable member; a depressible boltprovided in the path. over which the vehicle Willtravel when started; mechanical means and connections I therefrom to said depressible bolt whereby the means supporting the driven shaft in actlve position are operated, independentlfy of said electromagnet, to release'the sha when the bolt is depressed; and a switch in the circuit of. said motor, such switch connected with said bolt andpperated by the depression of the latter. to break'said circuit.

9; In a motion transmittin device the combination of a pendentydriv'en shaft, ,a-

rotatable member andxa support therefor, ,a sliding bearing for said driven shaft, such bearin'g supported on the rotatable member by means accommodating the movement of said shaft in all porting the driven pendent shaft in active position; and such supporting means conan electromagnet and operable to release th driven shaft by the energizing .of the electromagnet,

10. In a motion transmitting device the combination of a pendent, driven shaft, a rotatable member providing a sliding bearing for said driven shaft; a projection on the jection a pendent, driven Q for v supporting means directions; means for supshaft, pivoted arms engaging with such .pro-

for supporting the driven shaft in coupled positlon; a spring operating to spread such arms apart in order to re ease the shaft; a latch holding the arms against the tension of said spring; and means for disengaging said latch, such means controlled'by an electromagn'et.

- 11. In a motion transmitting device the combination of a pendent, driven shaft, a

rotatable member providing ,a sliding bear-- ing for said driven shaft; a projection on the shaft, pivoted arms engaging with such rojection for supporting the driven shaft in coupled position; a spring operating to spread such arms apart in order to release 7 the shaft; a latch holding the arms against the tension of said spring; a spring actuated projectable device arranged to. disengage said latch by impact therewith, and means normally restraining such projectable de- ,vice-, such means controlled by an clectromagnet and operated to release the projectable device when the electromagnet is energized.

12. ,In a motion transmitting device the combinaiton ofa movable driven shaft, a rotatable member providing a sliding bearing porting the driven shaft in active position,

for said driven shaft, and means for supan 'electromagnet element included in said and operating when energized to render said snppnrtifig means in-' 'active.

' 1 3. Inca motion transmitting device, combination ,of. a movable driven shaft, a

rotatable member providing a bearing for saidfdriven shaft, means for placing the driven shaft'in active position, and means mcludmg and controlled by an electromagnet element for placing the inactive position.

" GEO. G. GHUTE.

CHE$TER A. GROAT.

driven shaft in Witnesses CECIL Lone,

WM. C; ,SOHMrrT.

the v 

